Slow Cooker Cajun Red Beans and Rice Recipe
This Slow Cooker Cajun Red Beans and Rice recipe delivers a hearty, flavorful Southern classic with tender red beans simmered alongside smoky andouille and smoked sausages. Slow cooking melds the spices and ingredients perfectly, creating a creamy, comforting dish that pairs wonderfully with steamed rice.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Cajun, Southern American
Ingredients
Scale
Beans and Meats
- 1 Pound Dried Red Beans
- 1 Link Andouille Sausage, quartered
- 2 Links Smoked Sausage, sliced
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 Yellow Onion, diced
- 1 Rib Celery, diced
- 4 Cloves Garlic, minced
- 3 Bay Leaves
Liquids and Seasoning
- 6 Cups Water
- 2 Beef Bouillon Cubes
- 1 Tablespoon Cajun Seasoning
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Rinse the dried red beans thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris. Quarter the andouille sausage and slice the smoked sausages. Dice the yellow onion and celery, and mince the garlic cloves.
- Add to Slow Cooker: Place the rinsed red beans, quartered andouille sausage, sliced smoked sausage, diced onion, diced celery, minced garlic, and bay leaves into a 5-quart or larger slow cooker.
- Season and Add Liquids: Add 6 cups of water, 2 beef bouillon cubes, and 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning over the other ingredients. Stir everything together well to combine.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on the high setting for 6 hours. The beans should become tender and the flavors fully melded during this slow simmering process.
- Mash for Creaminess: When cooking is complete, mash some of the beans against the side of the slow cooker with a spoon or spatula to create a creamier texture, according to your preference.
- Serve: Serve the slow-cooked Cajun red beans hot over steamed rice for a classic and satisfying meal.
Notes
- Soaking the beans overnight can reduce cooking time and improve digestibility, though it’s optional here.
- Adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning to your preferred spice level.
- This dish tastes even better the next day as flavors continue to develop.
- Use low-sodium beef bouillon if watching salt intake.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the sausages and replace beef bouillon with vegetable broth.
Keywords: Cajun red beans and rice, slow cooker red beans, andouille sausage recipe, easy Cajun dinner, Southern slow cooker recipe
